In a five-day-long rising streak, the BSE benchmark index Sensex climbed to a two-month high adding over 201 points on buying by funds on expectations of better economic growth, shrugging off inflationary concerns.

The 30-share index, which had gained nearly 943 points in the last four sessions, advanced further by 201.41 to 18,693.86, a level last seen on May 2.

Investors covering their pending short positions ahead of the expiry of June month contract in the derivatives segment tomorrow further fuelled the uptrend, marketmen said.

A firming trend in global markets on easing concerns of European sovereign debt crisis also boosted the sentiment.

Trading sentiment turned bullish as the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, stood by his economic growth target even after the longest string of monetary tightening measures in a decade, brokers said.

He said the economy will grow by 8.5 per cent in 2011-12 and the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products will not have much impact on the fiscal deficit.

In a similar fashion, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty traded above the 5,600 mark level by adding 55.15 points to settle at 5,600.41.

The rally was mostly contributed by FMCG, metal, banking, IT and realty stocks. The FMCG sector index gained the most by 2.58 per cent to 3,972.89, followed by the metal index that rose by 1.52 per cent to 14,987.98.

Market heavyweights Reliance Industries and Infosys Technologies closed with handsome gains. RIL rose Rs 14.75 to Rs 885.30 and Infosys Rs 17.90 to Rs 2,881.75.

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